-LRB- CNN -RRB- After five months of detention in North Korea , Jeffrey Fowle arrived home in Ohio early Wednesday for an emotional reunion with his family .

Stepping off the plane at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and onto the tarmac , he was embraced by family members , including his three children .

`` It 's a good sign that the North Koreans released this man unconditionally , '' former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson told CNN 's `` New Day . '' `` They usually demand a price . ''

Richardson has helped negotiate the release of prisoners in the past , including from North Korea .

Pyongyang 's move is `` a signal to the U.S. that says , ` All right , let 's start talking , ' '' and perhaps restart nuclear negotiations , he said .

` Fig leaf ' statement

A North Korean government official told CNN that Fowle was released after leader Kim Jong Un issued a `` special dispensation . ''

`` Comrade Kim Jong Un , the First Chairman of the National Defence Commission , in deference to agreement between the Supreme Leaders of the DPRK and the US , granted a special dispensation for the American Jeffrey Edward Fowle , who was being indicted , to be released after his case had been dismissed , '' an emailed statement read .

Former White House spokesman Jay Carney called the statement `` a fig leaf . ''

Kim needed to free Fowle `` to try to thaw relations a little bit , and he needs to pin it on the United States , '' said Carney , who is now a CNN commentator .

The Obama administration , for which Carney was the spokesman , continues to `` press very hard '' for the release of Americans being held in North Korea , as previous administrations did , he said .

North Korea accused Fowle of leaving a Bible at a club for foreign sailors and interpreted the act as a violation of law .

Although the hermetic state contains some state-controlled churches , the totalitarian regime forbids independent religious activities , viewing them as potential threats to its authority .

So Fowle , 56 , languished in detention , one of three Americans imprisoned in the country .

A U.S. government plane picked up Fowle in Pyongyang on Tuesday .

`` He has been evaluated by a doctor and appears to be in good health , '' State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said .

`` We 're thrilled ; we 're overjoyed , '' said Jim Shihady , assistant pastor of Bethel Baptist Church , which the Fowle family attends in Miamisburg , speaking Tuesday to CNN affiliate WHIO .

`` My phone 's been ringing . The texts have been coming in , and people wanting to make sure we 've heard the good news . ''

Two still detained

Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae are still being held in North Korea .

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the United States has no updates on their status and called on North Korea to release them immediately .

Bae , a Korean-American missionary , was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in 2013 . He told CNN he was working eight hours a day , six days a week , at a labor camp but was being treated `` as humanely as possible . ''

Miller , accused of tearing up his tourist visa and seeking asylum upon entry , was taken into custody in April of this year . He told CNN that his situation was `` very urgent '' and that he would soon be sent to trial and `` directly be sent to prison . ''

` Admitted my guilt '

Last month , Fowle spoke with CNN in a situation controlled by North Korea . He pleaded for U.S. help and described the conditions of his detention .

In the interview , he said he had `` no complaints '' about his treatment .

`` It 's been very good so far , and I hope and pray that it continues , while I 'm here two more days or two more decades , '' he said .

North Korean officials monitored and recorded the interviews . CNN was unable to assess independently the conditions under which the men were being held .

`` It 's a covert act and a violation of tourists ' rules , '' Fowle said of trying to leave the Bible . `` I 've admitted my guilt to the government and signed a statement to that effect and requested forgiveness from the people and the government of the DPRK . ''

As a prisoner of the dictatorship , he could not speak freely .

Fowle said at the time that he expected his trial to start within a month .

City will hire him back

While Fowle was detained , Miamisburg terminated his employment as a municipal worker , providing a $ 70,000 severance package . Officials said he had exhausted his leave .

But the city says it will hire him back .

`` We wish Jeff well . We 're excited to have him return , '' City Manager Dave Hicks told WHIO .

CNN 's Elise Labott and Jethro Mullen contributed to this report .

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North Korea 's unconditional move is a `` good sign , '' former ambassador says

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North Korea 's statement is a `` fig leaf , '' former White House spokesman says

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Jeffrey Fowle was greeted by family at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio

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North Korea is still holding two other Americans